builder. It will probably take two years to complete. By way of illustration of the manner in which churchpeople here are entering on what is certainly a considerable venture of faith, I should like to mention an incident which occurred during a long discussion in the Building Committee, just a few words from one of them, a shrewd business man. "I should be the last to make light of the business aspect of this question; lately I had to decide for myself whether or not to take the risk of considerable expense in developing my own particular business, and I took it. I had good reason for doing so. In the matter now before us, ought we not to remember that it is no ordinary concern, but that it is God's business? From all I can see, I have no doubt that we may count on His blessing, whatever the risk may be."
We have had a great function at the laying of the foundation, or rather, corner-stone of the new part of the church. The Bishop was present, and at his request I laid the stone myself. It was our weekly Thursday half-holiday, and a great concourse of people were present. All the new work will be of the same construction as the nave; the walls of solid ashlar work, squared blocks of our hard dolerite stone outside, with similar blocks of Oamaru limestone inside, no rubble being used except in the core of the massive tower walls. The natural foundation of the church is a very stiff clay, almost as hard as rock, but the architects have provided for deep stone and concrete foundations, with good drainage. The chancel arch has been temporarily blocked up to enable us to use the nave still for service. Mr. Panton, a resident architect, has been appointed to superintend the work.
You can understand that our venture, which in-
